Only I am Venerable

"Who? Who’s there? Get out... Get the hell out!"

Dragon Seal’s voice was tinged with tears, his mind on the verge of collapse as he screamed like a madman.

"Heh heh, stop shouting. No one can hear you. If you want to live and have an explanation for that woman, Han Mei, then you’ll quiet down and we can talk. I guarantee I can get you through this!"

"You... are you a man or a ghost?" Dragon Seal whirled around, his eyes filled with terror. He still couldn’t see anyone!

In the dim basement, the air distorted. A man in his forties with an exceptionally plain face slowly materialized. He looked at the terrified Dragon Seal and gave a faint smile. As the dim light of the Everlasting Lamp flickered, Qin Li’s smile seemed to grow more sinister and horrifying. Terrified, Dragon Seal stumbled back three or four steps and collapsed onto the floor. "Who... who are you?" he stammered.

"Heh heh. Dragon Seal, you’re a smart man. Knowing who I am won’t do you any good." Qin Li’s voice was soft and distant, as if it wasn’t coming from his mouth at all. Dragon Seal stared at Qin Li’s lips, but he could hardly see them move.

However, Qin Li’s words helped Dragon Seal gradually calm down. He sat on the floor, his gaze complex as he looked at Qin Li. "You took the map, didn’t you?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "Why haven’t you left? What is there to say to a nobody like me? Don’t tell me you want to... go against the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace?"

As he spoke, realization dawned on Dragon Seal. He stared at Qin Li in utter horror. "No, absolutely not! I’m already an Outer Disciple of the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace. I will never work with you against them! You... you can forget about it! Unless you kill me!"

Qin Li was in no hurry. He watched with a grin as Dragon Seal pledged his loyalty. When he was finished, Qin Li said nonchalantly, "I’ve already told you, you could scream your lungs out and no one would hear you. So there’s no point in putting on a show of loyalty here. It’s useless. Let’s talk about how you’re going to get past Han Mei. Otherwise, I’m sure you understand that she’ll never let you off the hook. Even if you tell her I took the real map, Han Mei won’t believe you."

"Why?"

"Because you’ve already used this trick to fool someone once. Do you think she’ll believe you a second time? Won’t she just think you’re trying to keep the real map for yourself to trade for an even greater reward?"

Dragon Seal might not be strong, but that didn’t mean he was stupid. After a moment’s thought, he understood what Qin Li was saying. It was true. Han Mei would never believe him now.

Dragon Seal slumped. "Then what do you suggest I do?" he asked, defeated.

Qin Li smiled. "Has Han Mei ever seen the real map?"

Dragon Seal shook his head. "Of course not. If she had, she would’ve taken it from me long ago!"

"Good. Then just give her this fake map. Problem solved, right?" As he spoke, Qin Li tossed the map he had taken from the chubby young man back to Dragon Seal.

Dragon Seal picked it up and froze after a single glance. A long moment passed before he looked at Qin Li and stammered, "You... You’re the one who stole the map today?"

It was no wonder Dragon Seal asked such a question. This map was a fake his own ancestor had created to protect the real one! Of course he would recognize it instantly!

In this world, aside from someone who possessed a real Ancient Map, Dragon Seal was likely the only one who could tell this map was a fake.

"I’ve already told you, knowing too much won’t do you any good. You’re a smart man; you should understand that." Qin Li’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Dragon Seal shuddered slightly, then nodded. "Yes, I spoke out of turn."

By now, Dragon Seal had completely calmed down. ’This man’s power is terrifying,’ he thought. ’I’ve been wasting time in here, shouting and screaming, yet there’s been no reaction from outside.’

’Clearly, this man has placed a ward around the basement!’

’Thinking about it, the middle-aged man has a point. Han Mei has never seen the real map, so she’d never imagine that the fake one would come back to her so quickly, and after changing hands, end up right back with her.’

But then Dragon Seal thought of another problem. He looked at Qin Li and asked cautiously, "But how can you be sure that the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace doesn’t have a real Ancient Map? What if Saintess Han Mei has seen the real one? Wouldn’t she be able to tell this is a fake at a glance?"

Qin Li just smiled and shook his head. ’I have six of the real maps in my possession,’ he thought. ’There’s one more with that chubby young man and his group. The entire Ancient Map probably only consists of eight pieces. It’s almost impossible for Han Mei to have a real one.’

Thinking of this, Qin Li said, "Don’t worry, she doesn’t have an Ancient Map. Just give this one to her. Even in the off chance she does have one, don’t be afraid. Just tell her you’ve hidden the real map. When the time comes, I will definitely show up to help you!"

Dragon Seal wanted to ask what would happen if Qin Li didn’t show up, but he stopped himself. ’Right now, this is my only option,’ he thought.

He could only nod, accepting his misfortune. ’When you’re on top, you really can’t get carried away,’ he thought. ’You have to keep a low profile.’

Dragon Seal tidied up the fake Ancient Map, brushing off the dust. He thought for a moment, then rolled it up again and tossed it into a pile of ash, letting it get dirty. "The Saintess loves things to be clean," he said, as if explaining himself. "I’ll tell her the most dangerous place is the safest, that the real map was just hanging from the rafters. She’ll have to believe me!"

Qin Li nodded, impressed by Dragon Seal’s cleverness. He chuckled. "The truth about this will come out sooner or later. If you’re worried about Han Mei’s revenge, you should wait a bit and then move away from here as soon as you can. Alright, I’ve said my piece. Good luck!"

"Oh, right. If you want to make that woman outside fall in love with you, I can teach you a trick! Lean in!" Qin Li said, a sly glint in his eye and a wicked smile on his face.

After he finished speaking, Qin Li’s body slowly vanished within the dim basement.

Only after Qin Li’s form had completely disappeared did Dragon Seal dare to cough a few times. Seeing that he was truly alone, he thought, ’So that’s how it’s done. That guy looks so plain, but he’s amazing at fooling girls!’

Just then, a cold voice came from outside the woodshed. "Are you done yet? What’s taking so long?"

The voice instantly sent a cold sweat down Dragon Seal’s back. He placed a hand on his chest and took a few breaths before calling out in a low voice, "Just thinking about something! I’m coming!"

In his mind, however, he was replaying what Qin Li had said. ’I don’t know how many pieces of the Ancient Map there are in total, but one thing is obvious: that map is a fake. Sooner or later, Han Mei will find out. When she does, she’ll never let me, the main culprit, off the hook!’

Dragon Seal cursed his luck. ’One lust-driven mistake and I’ve dug my own grave,’ he thought. ’That woman outside... do I go through with it or not? If I suddenly back out now, it will probably make Han Mei suspicious.’ Thinking this, he gritted his teeth. ’Screw it, I’ll risk it! What’s the big deal? Women are all the same. So what if she’s powerful? A powerful woman is still a woman! As long as I make her mine, she’ll listen to whatever I say!’

With that thought, Dragon Seal opened the door to the hidden passage and swaggered out. He saw the beautiful Cold Beauty standing outside the woodshed, watching him with a frosty gaze.

While admiring the middle-aged man’s power, Dragon Seal boldly walked up to the Cold Beauty. He wanted to get handsy, but her icy glare froze him in his tracks. He didn’t dare, but he still put on a cheeky grin. "So thoughtful of my dear wife to worry about her husband..."

"Hmph. Shameless!" The Cold Beauty was resentful, but she knew the matter was settled. From now on, she was to be the wife of this weak, lecherous man. So, while she didn’t give Dragon Seal a pleasant look, she didn’t say anything more.

Dragon Seal gave a sly chuckle and reached out to take one of the woman’s hands. ’Smooth, delicate, exquisite... She’s absolutely Top-Grade!’ he praised inwardly.

The woman clearly hadn’t expected Dragon Seal to push his luck. Her face flushed, and a flash of anger crossed her eyes. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, a Scroll was suddenly pressed into it.

Dragon Seal, using his other hand, had passed the Scroll to her. He suddenly said in a low, serious voice, "I’m sorry..."

The cold woman was taken aback. She probably never expected this weak, lecherous man to actually apologize to her. For a moment, she was bewildered. "Sorry... sorry for what?" she asked subconsciously.

"I have wronged you," Dragon Seal said, his voice deep and his hand still holding hers. "The truth is, I truly like you. I never wanted to ask for you as if you were some kind of commodity. From the first moment I saw you, I’ve admired you. But I know I’m not worthy—not worthy of being your man. I could only toss and turn at night, dreaming of you. That day, I don’t know what came over me... I must have been possessed when I asked the Saintess for your hand. I never imagined she would actually agree. But please, don’t blame the Saintess. After all, the affairs of the Immortal Palace are more important than personal feelings..."

Dragon Seal’s words left the cold woman stunned. She forgot to pull her hand back, simply standing there blankly in the Nightfall as her eyes slowly reddened.

Dragon Seal continued, "In all of this, the fault is mine and mine alone. I never should have revealed my feelings, and I certainly shouldn’t have asked the Saintess for your hand. So, when you go back to deliver the map, tell the Saintess... just tell her... tell her that I know I was wrong. That I know I’m not worthy of a disciple of the Immortal Palace. Ask the Saintess... to please retract her command!"

Hearing this, the Cold Beauty from the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace couldn’t stop the tears from falling. They streamed slowly down her cheeks. "Why would you say such things now?" she murmured. "I was just... unwilling to be passed around like a piece of cargo. If you had said this earlier, why would I have treated you so coldly...? And now you want to back out? You... what do you take me for?!"

As she spoke, the Cold Beauty pulled her hand free. With a twist of her body, she leaped into the air and vanished into the vast darkness of the night.

Dragon Seal watched the direction in which the Cold Beauty had disappeared and chuckled smugly to himself. (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to www.qidian.com, where more Chapters are available. Please support the author and read the original work!)

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